Mobile power supply for powered toy blocks and related apparatus

ABSTRACT

A mobile power station assembly for powered toy blocks includes a battery housing having first and second ends with battery contacts therein, first and second connectors arranged on the first and second ends, and a switch controlling electrical power application from the battery contacts to the first and second connectors. Toy building blocks attached to the first and second connectors can receive electrical power therefrom, and can include side extensions covering opposite sides of the battery housing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/802,595, filed on Mar. 16, 2013, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to powered toy construction blocks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present inventor has previously developed lighted and otherwise powered, toy construction blocks which afford enhanced scope and flexibility to the creativity of children young and old. Examples of such building blocks and innovative features and accessories associated therewith can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 7,731,558, U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 12/547,183, and U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 13/530,088, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. Despite the many design options offered by these building blocks, further developments are possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile power supply for powered toy blocks and related apparatus. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a mobile power supply for powered toy blocks includes a battery housing elongated between first and second ends and having a first connector at a first end thereof and a complementary second connector at a second end thereof.

Toy building blocks attached to the first and second connectors can receive electrical power therefrom, and can include side extensions covering opposite sides of the battery housing. A pendant connector received in one of the connectors can further allow the assembly to be worn or otherwise suspended by the user.

These and other objects, aspects and advantages of the invention will be better appreciated in view of the drawings and following detailed description of preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile power supply for powered toy blocks, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the mobile power supply of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of the mobile power supply of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the mobile power supply of FIG. 1, with a pendant attachment connected thereto;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the pendant attachment of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a partially exploded perspective view of block assembly built around the mobile power supply of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the block assembly of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a mobile power supply 10 for powered toy blocks includes a battery housing 12 which is elongated between first and second ends 14, 16. Complementary first and second connectors 20, 22 are arranged on the first and second ends 14, 16, respectively. Preferably, a switch 24 controls the supply of electrical power from batteries in the housing 12 to the first and second connectors 20, 22. Powered toy blocks with complementary connectors can be connected to either connector 20, 22 and powered therefrom. Advantageously, connector surfaces 26 can be formed on the housing 12 to facilitate connection with other toy blocks not compatible with the first and second connectors 20, 22 and/or not requiring electrical power.

Referring to FIG. 3, the housing 12 is advantageously formed from upper and lower sections 30, 32 that are permanently fixed via sonic welding or other attachment means. The housing 12 further includes a removable battery compartment cover 34, which can be releasably secured to the lower housing section 32 by a screw 36. The housing 12 is preferably made of a suitably strong and durable plastic material that is at least partially transparent or translucent.

The switch 24 extends outwardly through the lower housing section 32 and in the housing connects with a control board 40. Based on input from the switch 24, the control board 40 (preferably, a printed circuit board) controls electrical power application from battery contacts 42 to the first and second connectors 20, 22. Preferably, the control board 40 is configured to allow multiple power control schemes. For example, the control board 40 can supply power such that attached lighted blocks could light steadily as well as flash at different speeds.

In the depicted embodiment, the first connector 20 includes a coaxial male electrical connector 50 at least partially contained within a cylindrical male mechanical connector 52, (preferably formed from connector halves 52A, 52B that are integral with the housing 12). Likewise, the second connector 22 includes a coaxial female electrical connector 54 at least partially contained within a cylindrical female mechanical connector 56 (preferably formed from connector halves 56A, 56B that are integral with the housing 12). With these connectors, toy blocks could be connected to the mobile power supply at any angle of rotation while maintaining firm electrical and mechanical connection.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, to increase the usability of the mobile power supply 10, a pendant attachment 60 can be connected thereto. The pendant attachment includes a split base 62 and a cord conduit 64. The split base 62 is resiliently deformable and allows the attachment 60 to be inserted and securely, but releasably, retained in the first connection 20. The cord conduit 64 allows a necklace or other cord to inserted therethrough, permitting the mobile power supply 10 to be worn or otherwise conveniently carried by a user. In the depicted embodiment, the pendant attachment 60 is dimensioned to be accommodated in the first connector 20, although it could also be dimensioned to fit the second connector 22.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the mobile power assembly 10 can advantageously be used in a specialized block assembly 68. The block assembly includes first and second end blocks 70, 72 with connectors 74 allowing them to be attached (and, optionally, electrically powered by) the first and second connectors 20, 22, respectively.

To enhance the overall appearance of the block assembly 68, the first and second end blocks 70, 72 include side extensions 76. With the end blocks 70, 72 attached to the mobile power supply 10 by the first and second connectors 20, 22, the side extensions 76 cover sides of the power supply 10, completely or partially masking its appearance. Advantageously, the side extensions 76 from the end blocks 70, 72 abut when the blocks 70, 72 are fully connected. As depicted, the side extensions 76 extend from both end blocks 70, 72, but the side extensions could also extend from only one of the end blocks and be made longer to abut the opposite end block directly.

To further increase construction flexibility, connector surfaces 26 are formed on the first and second end blocks 70, 72, such that further accessory blocks 80 can be connected thereto. Additionally, one or more accessory blocks 80 can be connected to connector surfaces 26 of the mobile power supply 10, itself.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciate that the present invention can offer a toy block set that is powered and affords a large amount of design flexibility, while neatly concealing, or almost entirely concealing, the power station from view. Play with toy block designs constructed therewith can be accordingly unimpeded with cords or other bulky attachments.

In general, the foregoing description is provided for exemplary and illustrative purposes; the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. Rather, those skilled in the art will appreciate that additional modifications, as well as adaptations for particular circumstances, will fall within the scope of the invention as herein shown and described and of the claims appended hereto. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile power station assembly for powered toy blocks, the assembly comprising: a battery housing having first and second ends with battery contacts therein; first and second connectors arranged on the first and second ends, each of the first and second connectors including a cylindrical mechanical connector with a coaxial electrical connector arranged at least partially therein, the coaxial electrical connectors being electrically connected with the battery contacts to allow formation of a complete electrical contact with a load connected to either one of the first and second connectors; and a switch controlling electrical power application from the battery contacts to the first and second connectors.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the battery housing is elongated between the first and second ends.
 3. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of unpowered mechanical connector surfaces for toy blocks on the battery housing between the first and second ends.
 4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein first and second portions of the plurality of unpowered mechanical connector surfaces are arranged on opposite surfaces of the battery housing.
 5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the first and second portions of the plurality of unpowered mechanical connector surfaces are complementary.
 6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the battery housing further includes a removable battery compartment cover.
 7. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a control board located within the battery housing that controls electrical power application based upon a position of the switch.
 8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the control board is configured to allow a plurality of power control schemes.
 9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first connector includes a male mechanical connector and a male coaxial connector and the second connector includes a female mechanical connector and a female coaxial connector complementary with the male mechanical connector and the male coaxial connector, respectively.
 10. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a pendant attachment having a base arranged in the first connector and cord conduit through which a cord can be routed.
 11. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a first toy block connected to the first connector.
 12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the first toy block is electrically powered through the first connector.
 13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the first toy block includes at least one side extension extending along a side of the battery housing toward the second connector.
 14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the first toy block further includes a plurality of unpowered mechanical connector surfaces located on the at least one side extension facing away from the battery housing.
 15. The assembly of claim 14, further comprising at least one accessory block attached to the plurality of unpowered mechanical connector surfaces.
 16. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the first toy block further includes at least another side extension extending along an opposite side of the battery housing toward the second connector.
 17. The assembly of claim 11, further comprising a second toy block connected to the second connector.
 18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein at least two side extensions extending from at least one of the first and second toy blocks completely cover opposite sides of the battery housing therebetween.
 19. A mobile power station assembly for powered toy blocks, the assembly comprising: a battery housing having first and second ends with battery contacts therein; first and second connectors arranged on the first and second ends, each of the first and second connectors configured to supply electrical power from the battery contacts; and first and second toy blocks connected to the first and second connectors, respectively, and receiving electrical power therefrom.
 20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein a plurality of side extensions extending from at least one the first and second toy blocks cover opposite sides of the battery housing between the first and second connectors.
 21. The assembly of claim 20, further comprising: a plurality of unpowered mechanical connector surfaces on another side of the battery housing between the first and second ends; and at least one accessory block connected to the battery housing by the plurality of unpowered mechanical connector surfaces. 